The spirit of Phillip Hughes, of which Michael Clarke spoke so poignantly, was felt at Adelaide Oval during a touching tribute to the fallen player. No Test in Australia will ever start in the same way as this match - the first time the national team has taken the field since the death of the country's 408th Test player.

Coach Darren Lehmann choked back tears while Clarke, Steve Smith and David Warner wiped theirs away, not afraid to show their emotions so publicly. Clarke's team and the touring Indians stood before a large 408 painted on the outfield, joining about 20,000 fans at the ground to watch a slideshow of Hughes' life, which was narrated by Richie Benaud and broadcast on the big screen.

They were then told by an indigenous elder, "this is a place of spirit and strength" - and Warner's heroics with the bat later showed why. Clarke's team shed tears during a rousing 63-second standing ovation in celebration of Hughes' life. They linked arms for the national anthem, Warner supported by Ryan Harris and Brad Haddin. Haddin, who had been one of the first to be by Hughes' side two weeks ago, gave Warner a playful pat on the head in a gesture of support. So too did Smith as the opener left the field to play one of the innings of his life.

BLACK ARMBANDS

The Australian team had special black armbands made to honour Phillip Hughes. Instead of wearing the traditional armband made of electrical tape, a specially crafted elastic version bearing the late player's initials "PH" was commissioned. The embroidery was done by Michael Hamilton's Ashross group who had knitted Hughes' baggy green No.408 on the shirts worn by the players for this Test. The tailormade armband is being worn by every player and all support staff as well as the umpires. India's players are wearing the old-fashioned electrical tape.

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OTHER TRIBUTES

Australia's players have made their own #putoutyourbats tribute at the Test. They have leaned their bats against the boundary fence outside their dressing room. In an extra touch, they have also hung their baggy green caps off the handle. In other tributes around the country, Aaron Finch - a pallbearer at Hughes' funeral - had the number 408 emblazenoned on the back of his bat before Victoria's shield game against Western Australia. NSW are wearing "PJH 707" on their playing shirts for the rest of the summer. Hughes was the 707th man to wear the state's baggy blue.

NUGGET

For those wondering who was the man with his arm around Michael Clarke during the tributes for Phillip Hughes, he is South Australian legend Barry "Nugget" Rees. "Nug", as he is affectionately known around cricket circles, is part of the furniture at Adelaide Oval and much loved by the Australian team. He received his nickname from Barry Jarman after the former Test wicketkeeper discovered Keith Miller was his favourite player. Nugget is known for his loud clapping, which some players say they can hear from the middle.

So you can imagine how it must be for those sitting next to him in the dressing room, particularly as Nugget likes to be the last one to clap. The Tonk has been told he is wearing David Warner's gloves this Test in a bid to dull the sound without tempering his enthusiasm. Warner gave the 70-year-old plenty of reasons to clap on Tuesday.